The trauma related to car accidents and the precautions to prevent recurring accidents

In order to reduce the amount of deaths due to cars, it is necessary for each person to take the proper precautions while driving to be a defensive driver and not do many habits that too many people participate in, such as: drunk driving, texting while driving, and breaking traffic laws. It is extremely important not to do any of those three because it significantly increases the risk of injury of the death of the driver and the people surrounding the driver or potential accident. Driving while drinking or drunk can slow down the person’s reaction time and also make it hard for them to make a quick and correct decision while on the road. This can cause them to not be able to react to what another driver does and make it more difficult for them to follow the traffic laws which are put in place to prevent more accidents from happening, even though they still happen very frequently.

A way to prevent people from doing these three things I brought up is to add more variables and instruction before a person can get their driver’s license so that they either are not so young, driving without their brains being as developed and being able to make proper decisions but also help weed out the drivers that either, or both, break laws and put people in danger when they drive. The way to include more variables can be, for instance, making the permit online learning system a fun but educational lesson so that people do not just skip through it and cheat on the quizzes. People should want to learn what the rules of the road are so that they can be responsible and as safe as possible. Another way is that on the drivers license test, make the test longer and harder so that they have to know how to do the everyday needed things such as parking, driving, and also include going on the highway. Many tests do not have the person go on the interstate and so people can go onto the highway and get into a way more drastic accident. This needs to be integrated so that we can prevent those injuries and deaths.

As for my personal experience, I have gotten in really only one accident and it was not super major, however, it really deeply affected me. I was turning left on a four-way stop and it was my turn to go but a car still drove and then stopped in the middle of the place I was turning into. It was too late to break because my car hit theirs, but I did not stand up for my side in the case, and somewhat it was my fault. In turn, some of my savings had to be used to pay the ticket. This was maybe a year ago so I am a much better driver but for months after the accident I got so anxious when at a four-way stop, especially driving at the same one I had the accident at. I kept picturing myself getting in another accident but it kept getting worse and worse every time and eventually It would be so gruesome, such as my car flipping over and me dying, including the reactions of my friends and family but also objects flying into my window and impaling me. I know, my mental health was really bad then. It certainly was not healthy. Even when I dislocated my Patella, I kept those imaginations and it came way more frequently to the point where it was worse imaginations and happened multiple times every single day. Relievingly, It got almost immediately better since I got to college and found a group of friends that I love so dearly and they are there for me whenever I need them. If it was not for them, I would be in a much darker place in my life. This is why I am trying so hard to earn scholarships to be able to afford to stay here, with my friends where I can be myself and have better mental health and keep my education so that I can become a Clinical Psychologist to help people with their mental health and also be involved in the diagnosis process.

As for the steps I can take to be a better and safer driver is that now i do not speed, i take four-way stops very slowly and make sure that no one else is going while I am going. If someone goes while I am going I slow to a stop and wait. It is not worth it to risk it and either hurt myself or others, let alone have to pay a ticket in which i dont have the money to pay. I have learned my lesson from that accident and I am glad that I have taken the precautions to make myself a better driver. There is still more room for improvement but for now I am confident in my abilities as a safe defensive driver.

Thank you for your time,